Tristan 

Curator: Here we have a watercolour illustration by Arthur Rackham, titled "Tristan." Editor: The colors feel muted, yet rich at the same time. I'm struck by the theatricality of the scene, like a moment plucked right out of a play. There is such attention to detailing all the people in their garments Curator: Absolutely, Rackham's craft is key. His application of watercolor allows for a fluidity, a delicate layering of washes that gives the piece both depth and a somewhat ethereal quality. And observe how he uses line work, almost etching-like, to define form. Editor: The choice to depict Tristan in such a specific setting really interests me. He is posed singing, his harp clutched, at what appears to be a royal feast? What kind of symbols or archetypes do we think are most on display here? Curator: We have figuration reminiscent of a Medieval tapestry or manuscript. There is great use of light, that defines this moment during dinner as a medieval play-act, that is made accessible in modern fantasy-art through the artist's application of materials Editor: And isn’t it fascinating to consider how those elements -the king, the feast, the performer- evoke very particular themes and motifs that have carried weight through centuries of cultural imagination? This image, for me, taps into something very primal and familiar in the psyche. Curator: Precisely. The means and setting certainly work together. To your point on primal archetypes, that dog is giving all its focus to the singer, almost with reverence. Perhaps Rackham highlights, on top of Tristan's musicianship, the material comfort afforded by this medieval tableau of class. Editor: A compelling perspective. I came in drawn to the mood and narrative possibilities, but focusing in on those constructed elements helps appreciate this tableau's depth of connection to storytelling. Curator: And that deeper connection back to materiality adds an extra, equally important dimension to the viewing experience. Editor: Indeed. A potent intersection of form and idea to consider here.